SRINAGAR, Oct 12: Fresh braid chopping incidents were reported today in Kashmir leading to protests and clashes. The students of various universities held protest against braid chopping.

The separatists had asked today the students to hold protest demonstration, but the state government ordered the closure of schools and colleges. Kashmir University also suspended its class work but exams were held.

The braid choppers in this afternoon chopped off the hair of a 17-year-old girl in Wakoora area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district and in Batamaloo area of Srinagar.

“Some unknown persons today chopped braid of a 17-year old girl by forcibly taking her to bath room inside the residential house,” locals alleged adding that the girl (name withheld) was later shifted to local Primary Health Centre for medical check up.

Meanwhile, local people claimed that they have caught two alleged braid choppers who according to them were moving suspiciously in the area. The alleged braid choppers as per locals were carrying some suspicious material like scissor and other things.

BMO Wakoora Ganderbal, Dr Waseem said over phone that people brought a minor girl here who was well in her full consciousness.

“The girl told us that two unknown persons caught hold of her and chopped her braid inside home,” he said, clarifying that there was no issue of using spray on the girl.

Chief Medical Officer Ganderbal, Dr Peerzada Fayaz confirmed that doctors at PHC Wakoora examined the girl medically. He said he was not the appropriate authority to further comment on the issue.

Meanwhile, situation in Wakoora area turned ugly when police and forces used teargas shells against the people who caught hold of two people, whom they alleged were braid choppers.

The fresh incident of braid chopping was also reported in SD Colony area of Batamaloo today. The braid chopping in the colony here was reported for the second consecutive day today.

The locals especially the youth later assembled on the roads and protested against the incident.

Meanwhile, on the call given by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), the students of Kashmir University and Central University Kashmir today protested against the mysterious braid chopping incidents.

Scores of students putting in hostel assembled on the Kashmir University premises and chanted slogans against the braid chopping incidents. The KU students demanded authorities to nab the culprits immediately.

The locals of Banpora Naikbagh in Nowgam area also staged protest against the braid chopping incidents. The women protesters took to streets and blocked the roads for several minutes amid chanting anti-government slogans.

They urged Police department to speed up the investigation and trace the culprits behind.

SRINAGAR, Oct 12: Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti today said the braid-chopping incidents are an attempt to undermine the dignity of women in the state.
“Braid chopping incidents are attempts to create mass hysteria and undermine the dignity of the women in the state,”she wrote on Twitter.
Mehbooba added that the government will ensure that motives behind these attacks are found.
“Government will ensure steps are taken to find the motives behind these attacks,” she said, in another tweet.